URAC President & CEO, Shawn Griffin, MD
In a recent Modern Healthcare opinion piece, URAC President and CEO Shawn Griffin, MD and Dr. Stefanie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, call for lasting structural reform to address clinician burnout and mental health challenges across the US health care system.
The article highlights a stark reality: burnout, depression and emotional exhaustion are driving thousands of health care workers out of the field and costing the system billions. The authors argue that, rather than offering temporary fixes like wellness apps or mindfulness workshops, organizations must confront the systemic issues that wear clinicians down – excessive administrative burden, loss of autonomy and lack of meaningful mental health support.
“Protecting the mental well-being of health care workers isn’t optional,” they write. “It’s inseparable from protecting the public’s health.”
The piece points to promising strategies that are already making a difference. Health systems like North Mississippi Health Services, HCA Healthcare and the Medical University of South Carolina have embraced data-informed approaches to workforce well-being, leading to reduced turnover and improved employee trust.
Tools like URAC’s Mental Health at Work Accreditation, launched in 2023, are helping employers take meaningful action. The program provides a measurable framework to embed mental health and well-being into an organization’s operations and culture.
“We know what works,” the authors conclude. “What’s missing are the resources needed to address these challenges.”
- Read the full article in Modern Healthcare: Clinicians need better mental health support to avoid burnout (subscription required)
- Learn more about URAC’s Mental Health at Work Accreditation
